November 2019 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México

The arctic blast that engulfed a large part of the country finally lessened its grip on this part of West Texas. Mind you it was still cold this Friday, I wore a sweater, a jacket, and a coat.  However, I could not put it off much longer as I needed to get my lab work done so I can take them to the doctor.

I forced myself to go to bed early on Thursday but for some reason that is all too common...whenever I have to go somewhere important...I oversleep or do not want to get out of bed.  This morning I remembered that I had my sleeping bag and clothes in the trunk that I need to take to the laundromat whenever I pass by and see a few people...so of course those had to be removed before crossing the border.

To make a long story short I did not leave the house until 9:00 a.m.  I apologize for this blurred picture...I hope to purchase a pocket camera soon...I was so surprised to see that they have not finished demolishing the old toll booths.

As I got closer to the official USA/Mexico line of the International Bridge the line into Mexico slowed downed.

The concrete blocks and barb wire were there last time but not with the barbed wire mounted on them.

Most of the International Bridge is on American soil.  The line painted yellow and with a roof to keep the pedestrians dry is on the Mexican side of the bridge.

I made this short video as across from the picture up top US Customs was stopping some cars mostly cab drivers and while others with US plates totally ignored them...guess it is not important for the American drivers as they still have to show their US passports at the main station.

Finally, I was able to take a picture of the Bienvenidos a México banner.

The last time I was here they were building more booths and that project has been completed but today they only had one lane open.

By that time there were a lot of people at the lab I figured I would have a long wait but they told me they would be ready by noon.

It is difficult finding a parking space in that area because it is next to a private hospital and also a large medical practice.  So I left my car parked there and walked instead to run several of my errands.

I am still having problems with my cellphone ringing to let me know I have a message when I do not and when I do not even have cellphone coverage in Mexico.  So I just turned it off and left it in the car.

I wish I hadn't because there were many photo ops along the way.  I have mentioned my beloved uncle that lives in Mexico City many times.  He is what you would call "thrifty"  he sends letters and small packages to the home of a dear friend in Acuña to avoid international rates...not a criticism...love you Tío :)

I sat in the town square otherwise known as a Plaza and read his letter.  I do not know why so many people that I know and love are having medical issues,  so many have passed away this year.  I was headed back to my car when I passed the main church.  No one that knows me would describe me as "religious"...but for some unexpected reason, I felt compelled to go into that church.

I always stop and talk to my favorite Exchange Rate vendor.  I had noticed as I walked down Exchange Rate Alley that there were signs on many establishments saying they were out of dollars.  He told me that it always happens just before Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas.

While they will sell you dollars in small quantities they cut it off at the $200.00 dollar level or at least he does.  Not a problem, I am not looking to buy dollars but to sell them but I will wait until the dollar ratio is $20.00 Mexican Pesos to one US dollar.

I had not planned on stopping at any grocery stores but got lost due to several detours as they were fixing water or sewer lines and I ended up by Gutierrez.  I needed serranos but ended up buying jalapeños, carrots, calabacitas, cilantro, canned beans, tetra cartons of milk, hot sauce, toilet paper, Clorox, deodorant, and lotion.

Gutierrez is a large store and just like Bodegas Aurrera the last time I was here...there was not a single bottle of Kahlua to be had!  This time I was even willing to pay the $3.75 US liquor tax as I did not feel like driving to the Amistad Dam International crossing.

The line was long and slow.  Stopped and took pictures which made others do the same!

Long line to reach US Customs

Me

Looking back to the end of the line

Here is a better picture of the toll booths that have not been demolished yet.

Just my luck I ended up in the slowest line as there were only three open.

Several cars were switching lanes because of it.  I just knew it had to be a female agent probably the one I went to high school with that hates me.  I was wrong it was an elderly male agent. He looked at my passport then at me several times asked me for another ID...I have never in my life been asked for additional identification. 

I said "You are kidding right?"  he did not reply so I gave him my Texas driver's license.  He kept on looking at it and the passport photo then at me.  He said they don't look like you...I told him "it's called AGING, I am NOT going to look like I did eight years ago"!

He gave me both back and said "have a nice day"...guess he figured he had riled me up enough and did not ask me what I had to declare.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Early Appointments / August 2019 trip to Mexico / Got Scalped

I have had early morning appointments for three days in a row.  With these hot temperatures, I have not had a choice as it is much better to get them out of the way in the morning than in the heat of the day.

Yesterday (Tuesday - August 20th) I had to get up early to get my blood work done in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila.  The lab I go to is located next to a private hospital that also houses several doctor's offices and though they do not open until 9:00 a.m. people show up early so they can have their blood work results by the time they are seen by their doctor of choice.

I learned my lesson after not arriving early in the past and having to wait up to five hours to get my results instead of the usual three to four hours.  For those new, to my blog, my Nurse Practitioner allows me and other patients who do not have insurance to get our labs done in Mexico.

It has been a while since I have been to Mexico or made a grocery run to Gutierrez on Harvest Tuesday.  Another plus was there were not as many people at this early hour. Bought several heads of lettuce, tomato, serranos, white onion, bananas, yogurt, low-fat milk, canned black beans, guacamole sauce and carrot cake (my glucose levels must have been low forcing me to buy it)!

As I was checking out I spotted a beauty shop I had not seen and or noticed before. Our current hairdresser moved to a new location and I have not been able to find it.  It is on a very busy street and it would require me parking the car and walking to be able to locate it...perhaps when temperatures are cooler?

Went out to the car to put the groceries in the ice chest and returned to the store to get a much-needed haircut.  OMG...she was a master with those scissors...within two minutes she chopped-off all my hair!  I was in shock, I told her I did not want it so short.  She said...you told me to trim it...and you NEEDED a trim...don't worry it will soon grow back, I have a good hand!

The Exchange Rate on Tuesday (not the official one) but the one at Exchange houses was $18.80 Mexican pesos to ONE US dollar.  This is what my hair-cut cost...

80.00 Mexican Pesos divided by 18.80 =  $4.26  USD for a hair-cut
20.00  Mexican Pesos divided by 18.80 = $1.06  USD for tip

So I spent $100.00 Mexican Pesos for a haircut and tip the equivalent of $5.32 USD.  That made me feel a little bit better about being scalped :-)

I think the heat and the fact that school started once again on Monday that made for fewer crowds. It took me all of three minutes to cross the border back into the United States.

Today we had a high of 102, a low of 78, with a heat index of 105 degrees.

April 2018 trip to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila - México

If you recall my last trip to Ciudad Acuña was not as productive as I would have liked since I unknowingly went on a Mexican holiday.  This time I made sure to call the Mexican Post Office as well as the bank beforehand.

The package was shipped at a fraction of the cost that it would have cost my uncle if I had sent it from Del Rio. With that out of the way, we headed to the beauty shop as I had not been able to bring mother since she fell back in October.

We met Claudia a couple of years ago and since then mother has sent a lot of customers her way. She is very appreciative of that and treats us more like family than clients. When we met Claudia her little girl was around five or six and now she is a young lady.

The last time I went grocery shopping I found prices to be much higher than I remembered and Claudia confirmed it.  As you know I love my serrano peppers but the price is more than I am used to paying, however, it is cheaper than what I would pay at HEB.

On this trip, we only went to downtown Gutierrez as I like the shade canopies they have in their parking lot. They become even more important during the hot summer months,.

In México taxis are very affordable and they have several waiting to take you to your destination.

I have to give kudos to the city of Ciudad Acuña as they have installed new super big street signs with a built-in traffic light.

I have always wanted to take a picture of this old pick-up that advertises for the dental clinic where it is parked.

The lines to cross back to the United States where not so bad and they moved fast.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.